Poultry sizer

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for sizing poultry by weight includes a plurality of spaced weighing stations each of which is responsive to a predetermined and different weight. A series of trolley devices moves the poultry successively through the weighing stations, and ejecting mechanism is associated with each station so that the poultry is ejected at the proper station be weight. In one form of the invention, the arrangement of the weighing beam and counterbalancing weight is such that poultry is ejected whenever its weight exceeds a predetermined limit. In another form of the invention, poultry is ejected only when it is at or about a predetermined weight.

[15] 3,651,939 [451 Mar. 28, 1972 United States Patent Harben, Jr. etal.

[54] POULTRY SIZER 3,291,303 12/1966Altenpohl,Jr.........................209/l21 [72] Inventors:GmerS'HarbenJrGaines/me;Ernest 3,511,370 5/1970Taylor................................209/121X F Flowery Branch; LloydSloan Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Gamesv'ne of Attorney-Newton,Hopkins & Ormsby ABSTRACT [73] Assignee: Gainesville Machine Company,Inc., Gainesville, Ga.

Aug.3l, 1970 [22] Fil d; Apparatus for sizing poultry by weight includesa plurality of spaced weighing stations each of which is responsive to a[2i] Appl. No.:

predetermined and different weight. A series of trolley devices movesthe poultry successively through the weighing stations, and ejectingmechanism is associated with each station so that the poultry is ejectedat the proper station be weight. In one 6 l 5 c 7 0 B form of theinvention, the arrangement of the weighing beam and counterbalancingweight is such that poultry is ejected [58] Field of 2 l 74 whenever itsweight exceeds a predetermined limit. In another form of the invention,poultry is ejected only when it is at or about a predetermined weight.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,876,901Roth.............m......................209/l21 6Claims,6Drawing Figures4 0 nd m w W4 is i (11. I a. t

sv kuw mmnumza m2 FIG. I

sum 1 OF 3 FIG. 4

INVENTORS GROVER s. HARBEN, Jr ERNEST Ev LEWIS L. E SLOAN ATTORNEYSPOULTRY SIZER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION limits. Usually, sucharrangements are either of low accuracy 7 if made inexpensively, or areof great complexity and therefore expensive if they will attain a highdegree ofaccuracy.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, the object of thisinvention to provide apparatus for grading or sizing poultry by weightin which the grading is characterized by high accuracy and relativesmall weight limits, while at the same time achieving these ends byrelatively simple and inexpensive mechanism.

Briefly, the apparatus according to the present invention involves theuse of a plurality of successive weighing stations over which a line ofpoultry is moved, and in which weighing beams are utilized such thatwhen the weights associated with these beams and which are adjusted torespond to different weight values of the poultry are overbalanced,ejector means is actuated to kick the appropriate bird from the lineinto a suitable receptacle or the like.

In one embodiment of the invention, the ejection is effected whenever abird exceeds some predetermined weight and with the differences in thesepredetermined weights at successive weighing stations being onlyslightly different such that a high degree of accuracy is attained. Toeliminate overage at the first weighing station, a second embodiment ofthe invention uses a system wherein the overbalanced movement of theweighing beam causes the weight thereof to counterbalance the weight ofthe poultry whereby the weighing beam seeks a stabilized position withrespect to a particular weight of the bird. Switch mechanisms are soplaced relative to the weighing beam that when it is in its stabilizedposition, the ejector means is actuated but is otherwise inoperative.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of asizing device constructed according to the present invention, andillustrating a complete embodiment thereof;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken along the plane ofsection line 22 in FIG. 1 illustrating details of a weighing stationincluding the ejector mechanisms;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken through the device at a weighingstation;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatical view illustrating the circuit according toone embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating a modified formofthe invention; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatical view illustrating the circuit according tothe modification of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, the sizing orgrading apparatus shown therein includes a rigid frame having suitablesupports 10 and 12, and extending between them an overhead supportI-bearn 14. Further, there is provided the longitudinally extendingframe members 16 and 19 and the cross frame members such as thoseindicated by the reference characters 20.

Located beneath the overhead support 14 are a plurality of tracksections indicated generally by reference characters 22, 24, 26, 28 30and 32, which track sections, as will hereinafter appear, are disposedin longitudinal alignment with one another but in spaced relationship toprovide gaps or interruptions in the trackway defined by these sectionsand within which there are received the associated weighing platformsindicated generally by reference characters 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42 inFIG. 1. The weighing stations associated with the several weighingplatforms are adjusted or set to respond to different predeterminedweights of poultry and each has an ejecting means associated therewithto kick the poultry off the line at the weighing station if the weightresponse of the weighing station is such as to effect the actuation ofthe ejecting means.

The track sections are suspended from the overhead support 14 by meansof the U-shaped brackets 44, the legs of which are slotted as indicatedat 46 for the reception of suitable fasteners 48 whereby some verticaladjustment of the track sections for alignment purposes is allowed.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the lower flanges of the overhead supportI-beam 14 provide tracks for a pair of rollers or wheels 50 and 52,which wheels form part of a trolley mechanism 54, a plurality of whichare joined together as hereinafter described for successive passage pasteach of the weighing stations. FIG. 2 also illustrates the constructionof the weighing and ejecting mechanism at each station. A weighing beam56 is disposed in each station and is provided with a fulcrum or pivotpin 58 pivoting the weighing beam between its ends on the framestructure of the device, and one end of the weighing beam is pivotallyconnected as by a pin 60 to an associated weighing platform mechanism,such as the weighing platform 36 illustrated in FIG. 2.

The weighing platform in each case consists of an inverted U-shapedframe 62 having upstanding ears or brackets 64 on its bight portion 66which cooperate with the aforementioned pivot pin 60, and the dependinglegs of the frame are attached to respective platform track members 68and 70 by means of suitable fasteners 72 and 74. The two track platformsections 68 and 70 define a clearance gap 76 therebetween through whicha carrier fork assembly 78 projects as hereinafter is more particularlydescribed.

Each trolley 54 has opposite substantially vertical side frame members80 and 82 which are pivotally connected at their lower ends as by anaxle or cross pin member 84, as shown in FIG. 3, to the legs 86 whichtrail the trolley 54v The free ends of these legs 86 are joined by theaxle 88 which carries a pair of wheels 90, see particularly FIG. 2,which travel along the track sections and pass also over the platformtrack portions 68 and 70, as clearly shown.

The fork assembly 78 is also pivotally carried at its upper end on theaxle 88, and its lower end is laterally projected and bifurcated inoutwardly divergent fashion to provide a crotch between the two arms 72and 94. Each crotch allows a leg of a bird, such as that indicated by Pin FIG. 2, to remain captive within the crotch as illustrated by dashedline in FIG. 2. It will also be clear from FIG. 3 that the two members80 and 82 of each trolley are joined together by the clamping blocks 96and 98 under the action of suitable fasteners 100, the clamping blocksalso serving to affix each trolley to the cable 102 which forms a partof an endless conveyor mechanism driven by any suitable means foreffecting movement of the line of poultry through the apparatus.

Of course, it will be appreciated that the track sections 22-32 areformed similarly to the sections 68 and 70 of the weighing platforms,that is, each track section includes two L- shaped and separatedportions which are aligned in spaced relation as set forth hereinabove,and with the weighing platforms substantially filling the gap orinterruptions in the substantially continuous track weighing defined.

Each weighing beam 56 may be provided with the extension 104 detachablysecured thereto, as shown, and which preferably includes a threaded endportion 106 upon which a weight member 108 is affixed for adjustment tothe proper spacing of its center of mass from the fulcrum pin 58. Aswitch is provided in association with the weighing beam, and preferablyincludes an actuator portion 110 pivotally connected as at 1 12 to thebody 114 and it may be provided with a 'as shown in FIG. 2.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, it will be notedthat the center of mass of the weight 108 is essentially aligned withthe axes of the pivotal connections 58 and 60 so that if the weightacting at the pin 60 exceeds that value which will overbalance theweight 108, the weighing beam 56 will move from the normal positionshown, shifting the weight 108 on the arc 118 so that the weighing beamwill continue to move until the underside of its bight 66 engages theoverhead support 14. During this process, the switch arm I will followthe movement of the weighing beam until the switch, as shown in FIG. 4,reaches a closed condition.

As shown in FIG. 4, the weighing beam as illustrated diagrammaticallycooperates with actuator 110 for the switch, the movable contact 120 ofthe switch normally being disposed in open position as illustrated. Whenthe weighing beam 56 is overbalanced, the switch contact 120 closes thecircuit from the supply terminals 122 through the solenoid S whichactuates a clutch mechanism 124 and thus initiates operation of theejecting mechanism.

The injecting mechanism is shown more clearly in FIG. 2,

and will be seen to include a wire frame including the opposite parallellegs 126 (see also FIG. 1) joined by a bight portion 128 which actuallyaccomplishes the ejecting action, the opposite ends of the legs 126being fixed to cross bar member 130. For each ejector mechanism, theframe of the machine mounts a pair of vertical plates 132 and eachcarries a series of rollers 134, 136 and 138 constraining the wire framefor rectilinear reciprocatory motion. The initiating position of thebight 128 being as shown in FIG. 2 just below the path of the forks 78and being adapted to sweep thereunder and kick poultry P from engagementwith the fork when actuated, the direction of movement being indicatedby the arrow 140.

, Motive power for the ejector mechanisms is provided by the motor M,FIG. 1, whose output shaft 142 is connected to the constantly rotatingejector power shaft 144 (FIG. 2) through a suitable belt 146 andassociated pulley 148. Each ejector station is provided with an outputpulley 150 connected through a belt 152 and a pulley-one revolutionclutch 154 to the output shaft 156 of the associated ejector station.Each output shaft 156 carries an eccentric 158 which is coupled througha connecting rod 160 to the associated cross bar 130, as is clearlyshown in FIG. 2. The solenoid S in each case actuates the one revolutionclutch to allow 360 rotation of the output shaft 156 and associatedeccentric 158 from the constantly running input shaft 144. The onerevolution clutch may be of any conventional form.

In the modification according to the FIGS. 5 and 6, there is a slightlydifferent relationship between the weight 162 and the fulcrum pin 58 ascompared with the arrangement described above. In FIG. 5, the center ofmass C of the weight 162 is located below the axis of the fulcrum pin 58so that when the poultry overbalances the weight as indicated bymovement in the direction of the arrow 164, the center of mass will moveon an are as indicated by the arrow 166 laterally to shift this centerof mass and thereby effectively increasing the lever arm acting aboutthe axis of the fulcrum pin 58.

These are two switches associated with each weighing beam 56 asindicated by reference characters 168 and 170 in FIG. 6. The lowerswitch whose actuator is indicated by the reference character 172 isnormally maintained in open condition by the weighing beam 56, whereasthe other switch whose actuator is indicated by the reference character174 is normally maintained in closed condition until it is urged to opencondition by engagement of the weighing beam 56 therewith.

The spacing between the actuators 172 and 174 is such that for a smallangular movement of the weighing beam 56, both switches will be inclosed condition and this is illustrated in FIG. 6. If the weight actingon the platform 36 is just sufficient to position the weighing beam 56such that the weight 162 effectively counterbalances the platformweight, the beam will seek and remain in the stabilized position shownin FIG. 6. If the platform weight is too little, the switch 168 will, ofcourse, remain open, and, on the other hand, if the platform weight istoo great, it will overbalance and engage and open the switch 107. Thus,since the two switches 168 and are in series, the platform weight whichcauses the stabilized position of the weighing beam 56 is the onlyplatform weight which will cause actuation of the device and effectejection of the poultry. Since the switch 170 is normally closed andthere is some overlap in closing of the switch 168 before the switch 170is opened due to too great a platform weight, a time delay solenoid D isinterposed in the control circuitry. This time delay device, of anyconventional form, has a short time delay so that the system willrespond only to a stabilized position of a weighing beam when bothswitches 168 and 170 are closed. Only then will it close its associatedswitch 176 to complete the circuit to the solenoid S whereby the onerevolution clutch mechanism 154 is actuated to initiate the ejectioncycle. This arrangement will also make the weighing assembly insensitiveto inertia loading.

Whereas it will be appreciated that in the system according to FIGS. l-4the first station must necessarily actuate the ejection of the heaviestgrade of poultry with successively lesser gradations at successiveweighing stations, the system according to FIGS. 5 and 6 need not be soordered since the arrangement in each case may be made to respond toonly a particular weight within narrow limits.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for sizing poultry according to weight comprising, incombination,

a horizontally elongate frame including a longitudinally extendingoverhead support and a series of spaced track sections disposedtherebelow, said track sections being aligned with one another andhaving similar spacings therebetween to define a series of weighingstations at the interruptions between said track sections,

a weighing beam pivotally mounted on said frame in lateral alignmentwith each of said weighing stations,

a weighing platform carried by each of said weighing beams in alignmentbetween each adjacent pair ofsaid track sections and substantiallyfilling the interruptions therebetween to define an essentiallycontinuous trackway along said frame,

a series of trolleys engaging said overhead support,

means for moving said trolleys along said overhead support,

a carrier pivotally attached to each trolley and supported on saidtrackway in trailing relation to each associated trolley, wherebysequentially to pass over said weighing platforms, each carrierincluding a laterally projecting, generally horizontal fork presentingan outwardly divergent crotch for hanging a bird from the carrier,

ejector means mounted for lateral ejecting movement beneath eachweighing station at a level to pass beneath the crotch of a carriersupported on the associated weighing platform and sweep a bird out ofhanging engagement from such crotch, and

actuator means responsive to the presence of a predetermined differentweight on each weighing platform for operating each associated ejectormeans.

2. Apparatus for weight sizing of poultry as defined in claim 1 whereineach weighing beam is horizontally disposed and is pivotally mountedbetween its ends on said frame above and laterally offset from saidoverhead support, each weighing platform being vertically elongate,having a trackway section at its lower end and being pivotally connectedto one end of an associated weighing beam at its upper end, a linkpivotally connected at its opposite ends to an intermediate portion ofsaid weighing platform and said frame and being of an effective lengthequal to the spacing between the pivot connections of said beam to saidframe and said weighing platform whereby to form a parallelogram linkageconnection between said weighing platform and said frame, a weightcarried by the other end of each weighing beam, and each said actuatorweight.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein each said actuator means alsoincludes a second switch movable to open condition in response to grossoverbalancing of the associated weight, the two switches remainingclosed upon the presence of a predetermined weight on the associatedweighing platform.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein each actuator means includesdelay means connected in series with said switches.

1. Apparatus for sizing poultry according to weight comprising, incombination, a horizontally elongate frame including a longitudinallyextending overhead support and a series of spaced track sectionsdisposed therebelow, said track sections being aligned with one anotherand having similar spacings therebetween to define a series of weighingstations at the interruptions between said track sections, a weighingbeam pivotally mounted on said frame in lateral alignment with each ofsaid weighing stations, a weighing platform carried by each of saidweighing beams in alignment between each adjacent pair of said tracksections and substantially filling the interruptions therebetween todefine an essentially continuous trackway along said frame, a series oftrolleys engaging said overhead support, means for moving said Trolleysalong said overhead support, a carrier pivotally attached to eachtrolley and supported on said trackway in trailing relation to eachassociated trolley, whereby sequentially to pass over said weighingplatforms, each carrier including a laterally projecting, generallyhorizontal fork presenting an outwardly divergent crotch for hanging abird from the carrier, ejector means mounted for lateral ejectingmovement beneath each weighing station at a level to pass beneath thecrotch of a carrier supported on the associated weighing platform andsweep a bird out of hanging engagement from such crotch, and actuatormeans responsive to the presence of a predetermined different weight oneach weighing platform for operating each associated ejector means. 2.Apparatus for weight sizing of poultry as defined in claim 1 whereineach weighing beam is horizontally disposed and is pivotally mountedbetween its ends on said frame above and laterally offset from saidoverhead support, each weighing platform being vertically elongate,having a trackway section at its lower end and being pivotally connectedto one end of an associated weighing beam at its upper end, a linkpivotally connected at its opposite ends to an intermediate portion ofsaid weighing platform and said frame and being of an effective lengthequal to the spacing between the pivot connections of said beam to saidframe and said weighing platform whereby to form a parallelogram linkageconnection between said weighing platform and said frame, a weightcarried by the other end of each weighing beam, and each said actuatormeans including a switch movable to closed condition in response toweight-overbalanced movement of the associated weighing beam. 3.Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein each said weight issubstantially aligned with the axes of said pivotal connections of itsassociated weighing beam.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 whereineach said weight is disposed with its center of mass below a linepassing through said pivotal connections of its associated weighing beamwhereby weight-overbalanced movement of each weighing beam effectivelyincreases the lever arm of the associated weight.
 5. Apparatus asdefined in claim 4 wherein each said actuator means also includes asecond switch movable to open condition in response to grossoverbalancing of the associated weight, the two switches remainingclosed upon the presence of a predetermined weight on the associatedweighing platform.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein eachactuator means includes delay means connected in series with saidswitches.